A Democratic Socialist Blog

Socialist Liberty

What kind of Socialists are we? There are many varieties. But I think Socialism itself is best manifested in a Democratic Socialist Movement. Why? Because Socialism is a workers movement and more.My own socialism is defined as Libertarian and Democratic. The aim should be less government in many cases. If people will be free, they must be free from the from the constraints of government. Such as the Universal Income or Basic Income Grant. People would have to feel humiliated and indentured to Government because of poverty.Poverty can be eliminated. But than what about the FCC? The FCC should exist because it is needed to regulate media. Regulation helps for many reasons. The FCC shouldn’t be about censorship, what it should do is limit ownership of conglomerates and control by corporations because it is a guardian of the people’s air waves. Experiencing Government when in need should not incur intrusiveness with a parental government running peoples lives.National Health Care would reduce Government because it would eliminate many departments.Also, there is a cure for addiction not approved by the FDA. There is one drug the cures addiction. This was shown on 60 Minutes.Capitalism forms bigger Government because patronage is important. Rich friends give other rich friends jobs. These jobs could be $100,000 to $2,000,000.Departments without the people’s knowledge are created. Reagan created the Department of Domestic Affairs which spies on the public.Now we have the CIA, Pentagon, FBI, and Department of Homeland Security. State Police, the US Marshall. Local Police, Interpol and a few others.These can be merged for security purposes. Others can be eliminated, like the Pentagon and CIA. This should allow more funding for Local and State Police.The Departments of Homeland Security should be a State Level and be controlled by the States.But, Libertarian Socialism doesn’t mean less Government, but more efficient Government. We should have a Department of Peace and Diplomacy. A Department of Social Welfare. Since Socialism is a Enlightenment Movement, this is a way of installing a National Enlightenment. (Not to be confused with Buddhist Enlightenment, this entertains those who have obtained Nirvana and Buddhood.)All government entities should have an Internal Affairs Unit (with forensic accounting), Public Advocacy, and local Direct Democracies. People should be included in the process.Rather than wasting time on frivolous TV, people could go to Town Hall and vote on their future. With fair debates and open forums.The Tenth amendment is very important. It gives States autonomy in dealing with issues. The National constitution Party is partly right, but mostly wrong with this.The states should be granted with enough money to adequately run and each community (entertaining home rule) should have its own choices.The Federal Government should mandate federal elections. Removing Ballot Access restrictions and petitions. They should monitor for clean and fair elections.Here in New Jersey there is no money for state police and once again our taxes go up to pay for communities with no Police Department.Now Nationalizing the Industries my be a good idea. They should be in the hands of the workers.The Government should run these industries; they should be privatized and placed in the hands of the workers who run these institutions and Co-operatives or ESOP’s. The government should be a silent partner taking some income. And setting a few regulations. The people should vote on these regulations. A system of fairness should be implemented.Of course we need worker policy too free workers from Corporate Servitude. Like having a 32 hour work week, living wage, full workers rights. Union access and representation.Can Anarcho syndicalism be part of our future? Why not?! Syndicalism is an alternative economic system. Anarcho-syndicalists view it as a potential force for revolutionary social change, replacing capitalism and the State with a new society democratically self-managed by workersAnd that is what we Socialist want also, but there are small divides. Therefore, to liberate themselves, all workers must support one another in their class conflict. Anarcho-syndicalists believe that only direct action (Direct-Action gets the goods!)– that is, action concentrated on directly attaining a goal, as opposed to indirect action, such as electing a representative to a government position – will allow workers to liberate themselves.Socialist believe in Government representation.How ever Marx was right, capitalism must probably burn itself out. How ever, Unions can be Socialist too, and there should be enough room for both. Many believe we can only fight Capitalism with Capitalism using Capitalist methods. And why not? What is the sense of entering a war when only one side has weapons?Socialist Unionism must be in the middle of the class conflict freeing workers from the Bosses.Eugene V Debs once said (and I paraphrase), “I wish the industrialist would use their patents and free workers from the machine so we can compete as artists do.”As a musician, I really appreciate that. Because playing an instrument and entertaining is work. (We are subject to Ergonomics and we have a Union)Socialism doesn’t mean more or less government, but adequate government. Government that improves the quality of life gives us liberty and freedom with out always having to fight for it. Having Government in our lives with out intrusive government. Having people control their own lives.Abortion and Gay rights are just that way. Abortions allow women to control her own body with our government interference. Same with Euthanasia. Gays and Lesbians are people who want their own life with their own privacy and to be free to be who they are. The Gay and Lesbian Rights movement has taught us more about Democracy than any other so far. Out side of Co-operativism. Liberation of the individual is freedom and a point of democracy. Norman Thomas started the American Civil Liberties Union because we must keep fighting for Liberty here, in America. Amazing, the worlds greatest democracy and we still have to fight for freedom.